GOP presidential challengers condemn decision to host G-7 at Trump resort

President Trump’s challengers for the Republican presidential nomination condemned the Thursday announcement that the Group of 7 (G-7) summit will be held at Trump’s Doral, Fla., resort.

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R), former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh (R) and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld (R) all tweeted their distaste for the decision. 

“Republicans would be going nuts if a #Democrat President were proposing to host the #G7 at their resort. This is corrupt,” tweeted Sanford. 

As #Republicans we have to speak out about wrong being wrong. Republicans would be going nuts if a #Democrat President were proposing to host the #G7 at their resort. This is corrupt.

— Mark Sanford (@MarkSanford) October 17, 2019

Weld and Walsh also criticized Trump over the Ukraine scandal in addition to the G-7 summit news.  

“Between awarding the G-7 Summit to his own hotel & his acting chief of staff’s ‘Get over it’ admission that @realDonaldTrump withheld funds from Ukraine for his own political purposes, we have a POTUS wearing his abuses of power on his sleeve and daring us to stop him,” Weld wrote. 

Between awarding the G-7 Summit to his own hotel & his acting chief of staff’s “Get over it” admission that @realDonaldTrump withheld funds from Ukraine for his own political purposes, we have a POTUS wearing his abuses of power on his sleeve and daring us to stop him.

— Gov. Bill Weld (@GovBillWeld) October 17, 2019

Walsh  slammed acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who announced the decision. 

“The Mick Mulvaney I knew would’ve abhorred this G-7/Doral corruption. Then again, the Mick Mulvaney I knew cared about the debt & deficits when Obama was President,” Walsh tweeted.

“He just announced that foreign governments must put $ in his pockets to attend next year’s G-7. He admitted to a quid pro quo with Ukraine. He acknowledged telling China & Ukraine to interfere in our elections. Republicans, will you say nothing? Have you no sense of decency?” he added. 

The Mick Mulvaney I knew would’ve abhorred this G-7/Doral corruption. Then again, the Mick Mulvaney I knew cared about the debt & deficits when Obama was President.

But then he decided to work for Trump.

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) October 17, 2019 

Agreed. And they shouldn’t. They should boycott. https://t.co/CEBAZK7Os5

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) October 17, 2019

He just announced that foreign governments must put $ in his pockets to attend next year’s G-7.

He admitted to a quid pro quo with Ukraine.

He acknowledged telling China & Ukraine to interfere in our elections.

Republicans, will you say nothing? Have you no sense of decency?

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) October 17, 2019

Mulvaney on Thursday also linked Trump’s withholding of aid to Ukraine to investigations into the 2016 election. 

When asked if there was a quid pro quo involved in the release of aid to Ukraine, Mulvaney said, “I have news for everybody. Get over it. There’s going to be political influence in foreign policy … that’s going to happen. Elections have consequences.”

House Democrats have launched an impeachment probe into Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. 

Walsh, Sanford and Weld have an uphill battle, as Trump has seen broad support from Republicans in the polls. A few state Republican parties have also canceled their primaries in support of Trump.